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Update Email No 1 from Marie
Mazugo! Everywhere you go children run up to hold your hand
Hi all,
I'm here safe and sound. I just checked my results and
I've passed everything so I won't need to change my flights to go home early :-)
It's amazing, I can't believe I'm here! There's people selling things all along the streets at all hours. It seems like everyone has a shop. Most of them look like open garages but others are sheets of iron or wooden shacks. There were even some with a bike for a shop with brooms sticking out everywhere. The roads are mainly red dirt tracks extremely bumpy! but there's one main road which has tar mac out side of town.
The city is even crazier then the suburbs where I'm staying. There is only one set of traffic lights. And you need a death wish when your crossing. People just waltz across dodging the people carrier taxi's, motor bikes and bicycles which speed everywhere. There are people selling things on the footpath everywhere. Using broken glass to hold the new papers in place.
I'm staying in a small compound with a little courtyard. I'm sharing a room with 2 others girls. The toilets are outside, as is the dining area which is a grass hut. The roof is made out of corrugated iron which makes the rain sound like a typhoon and a cat like an elephant. I was awoken by the dawn chorus of dogs barking, pigs oinking, kids running to school and of course a cock a doodle doo thrown in!
On the first morning we got to visit the library, we met all the members of the organization who introduced themselves and told us everything about the charity. During this time, a whole school arrived and they all ran up to us wanting to hold our hands. They pulled up my sleeves. Their cute little faces staring up at us. Then sang us some songs and we gave them high fives. It was certainly an experience.
The second day we went back to the library where I help teach an English reading class under a tree in the yard. Then we went back into Kamapla again. This time we got a matau which is a people carrier taxi/bus. It beeps the horn to everyone who's walking by and collects as many people as it can, around 10-13 or as many as the driver can fit. Once in to Kamapla, we had to walk through the masses of people, markets and traffic. We got stuck at one point packed like sardines at the side of the road until we could cross without losing our toes or valuables. We made it into the main street to the bank. Then we went for iced coffee's to try and wake us up from the heat. It took 2 hours of waiting but thats their style. Nothing starts or comes on time :-) I fit right in.
Last night, we went to see a band called the Eagles! A very famous Ugandan band. Most people were sitting but us Mazugo's (White people) were up dancing right next to the stage. The gig was only 2.50! There were mothers with their children and even babies, which were dancing up the front. Any one could go up on stage and dance with the performers if you gave them a tip. So before we knew it 5 of us ran up and were dancing too. It was amazing!
I have the weekend off now and start on the monday.
Keep in touch:)
Marie
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